The SuperBowl is undoubtedly one of the most-watched events on television, with this year’s game capturing the attention of over 100 million viewers across the country. However, as wonderful as it is to see your preferred team score a touchdown, the game of football itself is not the only aspect that makes the Superbowl so renowned and exciting. The one of a kind commercials, the delicious foods and homemade dips, the parties, and of course… the halftime show.

Decades ago, Superbowl halftime performances were originally portrayed as smaller productions, however, after Michael Jackson´s performance during the 1993 show, the NFL made a much more conscious and enthusiastic effort to try and secure big-name artists to feature in their intermission half time rituals. In recent years, artists such as Adam Levine from Maroon 5, Beyonce, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, and Coldplay have highlighted the show´s most recent headlines. 

However, unlike previous years, this year’s SuperBowl halftime show put on by Jennifer Lopez and Shakira seemed to strike a bit of controversy among certain groups of viewers. The two iconic performers displayed quite the performance featuring Lopez´s hit song ¨Jenny From The Block¨ to Shakira’s ¨Hips Don´t Lie¨. The two women also displayed fiery high energy choreography along with enthusiastic engagement with the audience. As many will argue that the performance was entertaining and appropriate to be displayed at an event like the SuperBowl, others severely disagreed- and actually took offense to the demeanor and the gestures given off during the performance. 

According to the New York Post, some affected viewers actually spoke out on the performance and on the impression they thought was being portrayed to younger viewers- females especially. Reader Peter Kruimer states, “In all seriousness, can the NFL go any lower? She was spreading her legs giving the audience crotch shots! Pole dancing as Super Bowl LIV entertainment? Little girls should aspire to be strippers?”. Some mothers took on a similar perspective and expressed disgust and concern towards the NFL in regards to the exposure their own children had to an annual football tradition that should be both enjoyable and appropriate for all viewers. 

On the other side of the coin, however, other viewers saw no issue with the performance and actually thought it was a vibrant and confident portrayal of diversity. Some people´s perspectives were that it was high energy, entertaining, and embodied the ambiance of the tradition of the Super Bowl. The Washington Post states, ¨At one of the world’s most-watched events, you had two Latinas basically just giving the world an idea of what their thoughts are and who they are as individuals.¨

Regardless of the opinions given on the Super Bowl halftime show, there is no doubt that the game itself and the memories made on the night of the big game was a night to remember.